Texas: Gay Service Group Gets $2 Million Pledge

Resource Center Dallas (RCD), Texas' largest LGBT community center, has announced a $2 million pledge that will support its programming through the construction of a new building.

The land, at Cedar Springs and Inwood in Oak Lawn, and the building will cost an estimated $12 million. The new gift, from Eric V. Culbertson and David W. Carlson, brings to $3.5 million the total pledged.

As part of its comprehensive approach to helping those living with HIV/AIDS, RCD offers programs including dental care; nutrition, with a food pantry and weekday hot lunches; assistance with health insurance premiums and co-payments; an HIV/AIDS help line; and support groups for those affected by the virus.

RCD's move will consolidate three buildings into one, doubling the center's available space.

The new building, set to break ground in 2014 and open the following year, "will greatly improve how efficiently we deliver health care and nutrition services and dramatically boost our capacity as HIV infections continue to grow," said Cece Cox, RCD's executive director and CEO. More than 16,000 North Texans are living with HIV; Cox cited Dallas County Health Department data showing that figure is expected to rise 30 percent by 2015.

Other RCD services include HIV testing and counseling, STD screening and treatment, and mental health counseling in partnership with Southern Methodist University's Simmons School of Education and Human Development.

To learn more about RCD, visit www.rcdallas.org or telephone 214-528-0144.

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